The Lord of the Rings' Frodo and Sam aren't exactly Jesus
and the apostle Peter, but youths at Shreveport's First Presbyterian Church are
finding their stories are remarkably similar.
In a two-week study that ended Sunday, middle schoolers brought pop culture to
their youth group as they talked about the Christian messages author J.R.R.
Tolkien wove through his Lord of the Rings trilogy, which is now being turned
into blockbuster movies.
Brothers Christopher and William Webb, both 13, can recite chunks of the movie
and said they've participated in the discussion.
"It's fun to do because I can actually participate really well,"
William said. "It's fun to associate (the movies) with positive
things."
Leader Brett Rowell had done similar pop culture studies in his adult Bible
class and
through some books and the Internet pieced together discussion points for the
youth, hoping it would pique their interest.
"Tolkien was a devout Catholic," Rowell said. "He did base all
of these adventures on his Christian beliefs. They need to see that Christ can
be used in different vehicles."
Hannah Dorsett, 12, said the discussion made Christianity more real in her
daily life and she has been able to talk about religion with her friends more
than normal.
"When we study something cool, it makes me more comfortable and it's
easier to talk to my friends," she said.
In general, the story revolves around a good-versus-evil theme, William Webb
said.
"There are a lot of hidden links (to the Bible) that the books hint
at," he said.
Sunday, about 15 youths and their leaders touched on the ways power can corrupt
people who started out good, as a good wizard in the story turns bad in his
quest for the ring.
The group also talked about how God often picks unlikely people to do his work.
In the story, Frodo is a childlike creature with no power in the greater world,
but is entrusted to destroy the ring.
Similarly, Rowell said, Jesus was born to working-class people in a manger.
"It's cool how it all relates together," Dorsett said. "Every
scene has something about Jesus and God."
Rowell said he hopes the youths also learn lessons about loyalty from Sam, who
pledges to stay with Frodo through his difficult journey, and that God will get
us through the battles in our lives.